Tag: Martyrdom of the Bab

Prayers are vital to the spiritual life of a Baha’i

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Thames Valley Baha’i Shawn Khorassani
“Prayer is a vital part of Baha’i spiritual life” says Thames Valley Baha’i Shawn Khorassani.

Bahais across West Berkshire will be getting together on Monday 9 July to commemorate the anniversary of the execution of the Bab, the herald of the Bahai Faith. 

This major holy day marks the events surrounding the death of the Bab in 1850. The Bab (a title meaning ‘the Gate’) had many followers but his beliefs did not meet with approval from the leaders of the state religion in Persia, and they decided he should be taken from prison and put to death.

Shawn Khorassani, a Thames Valley Bahai, said: “9 July – the Martyrdom of the Bab – is an important holy day for Bahais, and a day when Bahais across the Thames Valley get together to pray.

“Prayer is a vital part of Bahai spiritual life. Bahais believe that prayer is more than making requests to God; it’s more like a conversation with God in contrast to meditation, which is like a conversation with one’s inner spirit.

 “It is therefore not the language which is important, but rather the attitude of mind in which prayer is made.”

Attitude of mind is important for prayer

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Bahá’ís across the Thames Valley got together on Saturday 9 July to commemorate the date in 1850 that the Bab – one of two main figures in the founding of their Faith – was executed by firing squad in Iran, then called Persia.

This major holy day marks the events surrounding the Bab’s death. The Bab (a title meaning ‘the Gate’) had many followers, but his beliefs did not meet with approval from leaders of Persia’s state religion, and they decided he should be taken from prison and put to death.

Shawn Khorassani, a West Berkshire Bahá’í, said: “It is the attitude of mind in which prayer is made that is important, not the language itself. 

“To Bahá’ís, prayer is more than making requests to God: it’s more like a conversation with God in contrast to meditation, which is like a conversation with one’s inner spirit. Prayer is a vital part of Bahá’í spiritual life.”

The remains of the Bab are now entombed in Haifa, Israel, in a beautiful shrine on Mount Carmel.